Communication Studies

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FROM STUDY TO SKILLS

All academic programs offered at the UM help students develop valuable transferable skills. The major in Communication Studies focuses on the history, content and impact of mass media, and new emerging media. Four reasons for studying mass media include:

Media’s influence on culture in the USA and around the world

Media’s role in shaping our individual and collective identities and attitudes towards others

Media’s centrality to everyday life, politics, the economy, and public policy

Media’s impact on democratic institutions

Communication Studies students develop a broad range of analytical and communication skills, which provide the groundwork for numerous career paths in business, education, and public affairs.

Related fields include Screen Arts and Cultures, English Language and Literature, History, Political Science, Business, Sociology, and Psychology.

Organizational Skills

Planning and managing
Working within deadlines
Working independently
Attending to details
Organizing teams and small groups

Interpersonal Skills

Identifying the different needs of individuals, groups, and mass audiences
Understanding institutional and cultural values
Working as a team member
Rewriting or editing with others
Interviewing people

BUILDING YOUR SKILLS OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

Employers seek out individuals who can demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills, teamwork and interpersonal skills, initiative, and a strong work ethic. Student organizations and campus employment offer valuable opportunities to add to the skills you are developing in your classes. Most majors sponsor specific student groups like an undergraduate organization or an honor society. Other options include study abroad, off-campus employment or volunteering in the community. Finally, a summer internship may be the best way of all to test out a career field and develop marketable skills.

FROM SKILLS TO CAREER

Communication Studies students develop both general and technical skills applicable to a wide range of careers. For example, effective communication skills may be equally useful whether working as a sales representative, a lobbyist, or a freelance journalist. Many students go on to graduate or professional school. The list below is a sample of careers undertaken by Communication Studies graduates.